Twilight’s grandfather is
Secretariat
Meet Twilight.
She’s nineteen and I’m now leasing her. She’s from royalty as her grandfather was Secretariat which I think is pretty neat. Twilight is filling a hole in my heart and I in hers.
Let me explain.
Her rider has been away at college for the winter, and with the exception of an occasional “vacation break ride,” she’s not being ridden. With my Jaliska gone for nearly three months, I’m desperate to have a horse to ride on a regular basis. And while it’s nice having my friend’s horses to ride on occasion, for me to continue progressing in my Quest, I really need a horse to practice on regularly.
So, in speaking with my trainer about “affordable” horse lease possibilities at the barn, I asked “how about the young horse Stella?” My trainer suggested her mother, Twilight.
Perfect, I thought.
So a few days later I headed to the barn to give Twilight “a try.” When I went to tack her up, she was so excited that she nearly “ran” out of her stall. So I said “hello Twilight,” to which her eyes widened, ears pricked forward and she proceeded to give me a little nudge as if to say “hello” back.
I groomed her well, put on her saddle and bridle and led her to the indoor. When I started our ride, I likened her immediately to the Tin Man from “The Wizard of Oz.” You know, the part in the movie when Dorothy and the Lion found him alone, rusting in the woods? Like him, she was in need of a good oiling.
I can do that, I thought. I recalled how I eased Jaliska back into riding shape after she had lime. Ten minutes of walking, then fifteen, a bit of trotting, cantering and so on, until she was once again up to speed.
Although Twilight was a bit stiff, I liked her immediately and saw her potential. So I had my trainer put me in touch with her owners. After a quick phone conversation and meet up at the farm, they were just as excited as I was to have me ride her regularly.
Nic goes for a ride on Twilight
We agreed on a lease arrangement that was a win-win; I would work with Twilight to get her back in shape and in addition to my riding her they would let my kids ride her, too, under my supervision of course. My son is such a beginner that he just needs a horse to sit on for the most part to learn the basics as well as to have a horse to practice on to refine his grooming skills.
Fast forward a few weeks to today.
To my surprise and delight, Twilight has turned out to be a really good horse for me. She seems to have had quite bit of formal training. She is honest to a fault and responds to my aids, letting me know in no uncertain terms if I am being too strong with my hands, or when not using enough leg or a firm seat, etc. It would seem that Twilight is my perfect muse.
So my Quest continues with an unlikely, but willing and able partner.
Sometimes life has a way of working itself out, for while my young mare is being trained in Aiken, two “older mares” are taking comfort and delight in having found each other back at the farm.
